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Membership
The Malaysian Association
of Clinical Biochemists
(MACB) is an association made up of biochemists, medical
doctors and other scientists in related fields who have an
interest in clinical biochemistry. Membership also includes
corporate members from the diagnostic tests
industry. At the end of 2003 there were 156 registered
individuals (consisting of 130 ordinary members, 24 associate
members and 2 life members) and 7 corporate members.
Activities
The objective of
the MACB activities is to promote good science and practice of
clinical biochemistry in Malaysia thereby contributing to good
medical care and innovative research.
Meetings
The MACB Annual Scientific Meeting & Annual General
Meeting is usually held in May or June. The scientific meeting is
a 2-day event (Friday/Saturday) and is open to members and
non-members. Participants have an opportunity to present their
posters or free papers and visit a trade exhibition.
Traditionally, the meeting is held in Kuala Lumpur but it has
twice been held outside the capital city; at A'Famosa Resort,
Malacca in 2001 and Genting Highlands, Pahang in 2002. Since 2002
All Eights (M) Sdn. Bhd. have sponsored the Best Poster and Best
Free Paper awards. The MACB also accepts invitations to host the
APFCB Travelling Lecturer and tries to incorporate the event into
the Annual Scientific Meeting. APFCB Travelling Lecturers who have
given their lectures to MACB are Mr. Les Watkinson (1999), Dr.
Evelyn Koay (2000) and Prof. David Sullivan (2003). Early this
year (2004) the MACB hosted its first IFCC Visiting Lectures given
by Prof. Jean-Claude Forest from Laval University Quebec, Canada.
Publications & Communications
The MACB publishes its own refereed
scientific journal called "Malaysian Journal of Clinical
Biochemistry" as well as a newsletter called "MACB Bulletin". In
2001 the Association set up its own
website and started an email group for
its members. In May 2004 the
MACB website was re-designed and developed into
its present format.
Continuous
Education
The MACB organises or co-hosts one-day seminars/workshops
in response to current issues that are
likely to impact on clinical biochemistry
laboratory practice in Malaysia. Recent seminars/workshops
have included 'Update on therapeutic drug monitoring' and 'ISO
17025'. In 2002 the MACB opened a yearly Travel Grant to assist
members to attend a scientific conference or workshop overseas.
Members can also request to receive the
Australian Clinical Chemist Reviews at reduced subscription rates.
History
The idea of forming an association of clinical biochemists was
first put forward by Dr. Tan It Koon and Dr. Mohd Zaini in 1979.
It was only in 1987 that serious discussions involving 21
biochemists and 1 chemical pathologist took place at the
Biochemistry Unit in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The outcome of that
meeting was the formation of a protem committee involving Mr Kua
See Lai (President), Mr Chong Hen Kee (Secretary) and committee
members Mr J B Lopez, Mr. Badrul Amini Rashid and Dr Jamaludin
Mohammad. A constitution was drafted and the Malaysian Association
of Clinical Biochemists was finally registered with the Registrar
of Societies in March 1990. On 18th August 1990 the inaugural
meeting of the MACB was held at the Institute for Medical Research
followed by a buffet lunch at the Selera Coffee House Pan Pacific
Hotel. By that date the MACB had 50 members.
In 1991 the first
election of the MACB Council took place and the following persons
were elected to office: Dr Mohd Zaini (President), Dr.
Satgunasingam (Vice-President), Kua See Lai (Secretary), Joseph
Lopez (Assistant Secretary), Chong Hen Kee (Treasurer), Dr. Aishah
Abu Bakar, Tunku Marinah Ashraf Tunku Abdullah, Badrul Amini
Rashid and Dr. Jamaludin Mohamed (Ordinary Members of Council).
Datuk Dr. Mohd Zaini remained as President for 10 years before his
retirement in 2001 although there were several changes to the
other posts. Subsequently Tunku Marinah Ashraf Tunku Abdullah
became President (2001-2002) and then Dr. Badrul Amini Rashid
(2003-present).
The MACB became
an affiliated member of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Clinical
Biochemistry (APFCB) and the International Federation of Clinical
Chemistry (IFCC). In 1998, the MACB had the honour of hosting the
8th Asia-Pacific Congress on Clinical
Biochemistry (APCCB). The Congress was
held at the Putra World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur and officially
opened by the then Minister of Health, Dato' Chua Jeng Meng.
The event attracted 604 registered
delegates from 30 countries.
To celebrate the
10th Anniversary of the MACB in 2000, the Annual Scientific
Meeting was preceded by two
1-day workshops (molecular biology
techniques and analytical aspects of drugs of abuse)
that were held concurrently. Datuk Dr. Mohd Zaini also gave
a plenary lecture recalling the development of clinical
biochemistry in Malaysia. In the 10 years of the MACB the
membership had grown to 146 members. |
